Composite metallic fabric



o. P. RIEDEL COMPOSITE METALLIC FABRIC v Feb. 24, 1942.

Filed yJuy 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OTTO PAUL RIEDEL ATTORNEY O. P. REDEL COMPOSITE METLLIC FABRIC Feb. 24, 1942.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed JulLy 9, 1940 OT TO PAUL RIEDEL.

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- v INVENTOR BY faz/M /aw TTORNE Y Patented Feb. 24, 1942 COMPOSITE METALLIC FABRIC Otto Paul Riedel, Bergenfield, N. J., assigner to Metaphane Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Applicatinuiy 9, 1940, serial No..344,513

3 Claims.

gures, and the said fabric having needle-likey indentations whereby the said normally substantially rigid metallic surface assumes the pliability of the said background fabric.

Another object of this invention is to provide a composite flexible metallic` fabric comprising a fabric background and a normally exposed integral superimposed metal layer, portions of the metallic surface being covered with an opaque4 ground and the remaining kportions being uncovered and exposing ornamental `metallic iigures covered by a layer of transparent coloring material, the fabric having minute indentations all over its surface, the said indentations rendering the composite metallic fabric sufliciently pliable to permit sections of the fabric to be stitched together in seamed form.

Another object of this invention is to p-rovide an ornamented composite metallic fabric having a metallic layer, and to closely subdivide and break up the continuity of the metallic surface to simu-late the appearance of interstices of the type always present in a woven textile fabric.

Another object of this invention is to employ a highly ductile metallic layer and to cause the breaking up of the said metallic surface to be made by indenting means which press down the metal and form minute substantially pyramidical cavities all over the, normally exposed surface of the fabric, the said pyramidical elements being adapted to reflect light from all angles.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a composite metallic fabric having its entire surface broken up with point-by-point inverted pyramidlike cavities and having portions of the metal surface covered With a flexible coating While other portions of the metal surface remain uncovered and expose ornamental metallic figures.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, the sections being taken as on line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified composite metallic fabric having its entire surface broken up with inverted pyramid-like cavities, the said cavities being closely spaced and being in staggered relation to simulate the appearance of portions of interlaced threads of a Woven textile fabric.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, the section being taken as on line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a fragmentary portion of an indenting tool having an inverted substantially pyramid-like lower end and which may be utilized to produce the pyramid-like cavities shown in Figures 3 and 4'.

in. the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the numeral I0 indicates a composite flexible metallic fabric comprising a sheet of flexible woven fabric II having an integral layer of metal foil I2 on one of its faces.

' The entire body of the composite metallic fabric It has been broken up with point-by-point impressions or cavities I3.

Portions of the metallic surface have been v covered With a relatively flexible coating or covering I4 contrasting in color with the metal foil so as to produce a two-tone color effect. Portions of the metallic surface have been left uncovered forming ornamental metallic figures I5.

` It is to be noted that the colored flexible covering forms a ground around the ornamental figures.

It is also to be noted that where foil is used throughout the specification and claims, that any satisfactory form of adhered coatingy is indicated.

The cavities I3 are preferably of inverted substantially pyramid-like form and; are closely spaced and extend through the opaque flexible coating I4, through the metal foil l2 and through the Woven fabric II and cause the'coating and the metallic surface to assume the pliability of the woven fabric II.

The walls of the inverted substantially pyramid-like cavities I3 are lined with the depressed metal foil. These sloping angular metallic surfaces form individual reflecting elements all over the normally exposed surfaces of the metallic fabric Il), and this adapts the said metallic fabric to reflect light from all angles.

As shown in Figure 5, the means forl forming the cavities or indentations I3, may take the form of an indenting tool I6 having an inverted, substantially pyramid-like striking end portion I'I. At least the striking end portion of the indenting tool is tapering. The pressure exerted upon the indenting tool causes the metal foil to deform into definite surfaces. It is to be understood that the indenting end portion of the tool may have designs or shapes different from that shown in Figure 5. In operation, the impressions or cavities I3 are preferably impressed upon the normally exposed surface and extend to the normally concealed surface of the composite metallic fabric, the metal foil employed being highly ductile and thereby adapted to be deformed by the indenting tool and to take on the form of the tool, without any cracking or distortions. When the indenting `tool enters the composite fabric Il), the paint coating is consolidated and permits the shiny metallic foil to be seen through the cavities formed thereby.

The indenting tool I6 may be taken as repre senting any suitable means for performing the same function. In practice, disks having serrated edges all around their circumference may be employed to impart the indentations to the metallic fabric. A large number of these serrated disks may be mounted side by side and in parallel relation upon an axle with the teeth or serrations in properly spaced and in as close relation as desired. Each of the serrations is preformed to the design of indentation desired.

The material of this invention comprises the fabric base l l, preferably a Woven textile fabric such as cotton or the like. A light reflecting metallic film or foil covers the entire area of the base. The foil, such as aluminum, is preferably cemented onto the base. Portions of the metallic surface are covered with a flexible opaque paint coat, leaving selected figured metallic areas uncovered. The paint coating preferably contains oil and is soft and non-brittle and fully adapted to form a flexible ground upon the metallic surface. A transparent coating of lacquer may be l applied to the exposed metallic areas. The transparent coating may be colored by suitable dyes.

The ornamental metallic figures thus formed Will be found particularly applicable to the true representation of flowers, but is not necessarily confined to this use.

Figures 3 and 4 show a modication of the Inetallic fabric shown in Figure l, on an enlarged scale. This metallic fabric is identified by the numeral 2i) and comprises a sheet of flexible Woven fabric 2| having an integral layer of metal foil 22 on one of its faces. Portions of the metallic surface have been covered with a relatively flexible coating or covering 23 contrasting in color with the metal foil so as to produce a two-tone color effect. Portions of the metallic surface have been left uncovered and forming ornamental metallic figures 24'.

Figure 3 shows a portion of the ornamental figure 24 covered With substantially transparent colored lacquer 25. The portion 25 is made darker than the portion that is not covered, to subdue the metallic luster of the foil. The composite metallic fabric 20 has been broken up with .point-by-point impressions or cavities 26. The cavities 26 are preferably of inverted substantially pyramid-like form and are closely spaced and extend through the opaque flexible coating 2S, and through the metal foil 22, but do not extend entirely through the Woven fabric 2|. The cavities 26 cause the coating and the metallic surface to assume thepliability of .the Woven fabric 2 l.

As shown in Figure 3, the adjacent cavities 25 are arranged in staggered relation to simulate the appearance of portions of metallic threads of high luster crossing non-lustrous threads of a Woven textile fabric.

In accordance with the patent statut-es I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, but it Will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. In a composite flexible fabric having a decorative surface, comprising a Woven fabric background, a superimposed metal foil covering the entire surface of said fabric, portions of the metal foil surface having a flexible covering thereon forming a ground, leaving other portions forming ornamental figures, the entire area of said fabric having closely spaced linear indentations passing through said flexible covering and said metal foil and stopping short of said Woven fabric, said indentations being spaced apart in staggered and parallel relation and causing the uncovered portions to simulate interlaced metallic threads of high luster crossing non-lustrous threads, said indentations causing said metallic surface to assume the pliability of said woven background, said indentations forming metallic elements all over the normally exposed surface of said fabric, the decorative surface of said metallic elements being adapted to reflect light directed from all angles against said decorative surface and causing said composite fabric to simulate a Woven metallic cloth.

2. A composite flexible fabric, comprising a fabric background, an integral superimposed metal foil covering the entire surface of said fabric, portions of the metal foil surface having a ilexible covering thereon forming a dull ground, the entire area of said fabric having closely spaced indentations passing through said flexible covering and said metal foil, said indentations being spaced apart to simulate interlaced metallic threads, said indentations causing said metallic surface to assume substantially the pliability of said fabric background, said indentations forming inverted substantially pyramidshaped metallic elements all over the normally exposed surface of said fabric, said metallic elements being adapted to reflect light directed from all angles and causing said composite fabric to simulate a Woven metallic cloth,

3. In a composite flexible fabric, comprising a fabric background, a superimposed metal foil or metal film covering the entire surface of said fabric, portions of the metal foil surface having a ilexible covering thereon forming a dull ground, said fabric having closely spaced indentations passing through said flexible covering and said metal foil and being spaced apart to simulate interlaced metallic threads, said indentations causing said metallic surface to assume substantially the pliability of said fabric background, said indentations forming metallic elements all over the normally exposed surface of said fabric, said metallic elements being adapted to reflect light di- OTTO PAUL RIEDEL. 

